The University of Strasbourg (Université de Strasbourg, Unistra) is a public research university with about 56,000 students, of whom 13,000 are international (academic year 2024/25).[1] It is ranked 456th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 420th the year before.[2]
For 2026/27 the national tuition is €178 for a bachelor’s, €255 for a master’s and €398 for a doctorate. Non-EU students in bachelor’s and master’s programmes generally pay €2,902 and €3,950 unless they are exempt.[3] There is no single French requirement: the level depends on the faculty and programme, from B2 to C1.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Université de Strasbourg (Unistra) |
| Location | Strasbourg, France (main address 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67081 Strasbourg)[5] |
| Type | Public research university[6] |
| Founded | 2009, by merging the three Strasbourg universities; roots in the Gymnase protestant of 22 March 1538, university status in 1621[7] |
| Students | 56,000, of which 13,000 international (2024/25)[1] |
| Staff | 3,218 teaching and research staff and 3,014 administrative and technical staff (2024/25)[1] |
| Study programmes | 725 degree programmes, including pathways (2024/25)[1] |
| Structure | 35 faculties, schools and institutes, 77 laboratories, 10 campuses and 23 libraries (2024/25)[1] |
| Prizes (university’s own count) | 18 Nobel Prizes and 3 Kavli Prizes[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 456th (420th in 2026)[2] |
| French requirement | Set by faculty and programme; for example B2 minimum in the Mathematics and Computer Science faculty, with C1 for computer science master’s programmes[4] |
| Tuition 2026/27, national rate | €178 bachelor’s · €255 master’s · €630 master’s in engineering · €398 doctorate[3] |
| Tuition 2026/27, non-EU students (unless exempt) | €2,902 bachelor’s · €3,950 master’s[3] |
| Official website | unistra.fr |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in its present form dates from 2009, when the three universities created by the Faure law of 1968 (Strasbourg I, II and III) merged.[7] Its own history page counts about 500 years, starting with the Protestant Gymnase founded on 22 March 1538. Emperor Maximilian II allowed it to become an Académie in 1566, and Emperor Ferdinand II raised it to university status in 1621.[7]
The page then lists the French annexation of 1681, the suppression of the university in 1793, the German annexation of 1871 with the creation of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Universität, the return to France in 1919 and the split of 1968.[7] Wikipedia dates the German re-foundation to 1872 and the merger of the three universities to 1 January 2009.[6] That is why you see different founding years: 1538 (school), 1621 (university status) and 2009 (current legal form). We show 2009 as the founding date of the current institution and 1538 as its roots.
The 2024/25 key figures list 56,000 students (13,000 international), 3,218 teaching and research staff, 35 faculties, schools and institutes, 77 laboratories and 10 campuses.[1] Wikipedia’s infobox shows a different student number; we use the university’s own figure.[6]
How is the University of Strasbourg ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Strasbourg is 456th in the world. In 2026 it was 420th, a fall of 36 places.[2] The figures come from the ranking table published by the French student magazine L’Étudiant, because QS’s own site blocks automated access.
The university’s own key figures add that it counts 18 Nobel Prizes and 3 Kavli Prizes.[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Strasbourg?
The university lists 725 degree programmes, counting pathways, in 35 faculties, schools and institutes.[1] Its training offer is grouped in four domains:[8]
- Arts, literature and languages
- Law, economics, management, and political and social sciences
- Humanities and social sciences
- Science, technology and health
Every programme has an entry in the university’s course catalogue.[8] The pages we read do not say which programmes are taught in English. Most courses at the Faculty of Letters are taught in French,[9] so check the catalogue entry of your programme.
How much does the University of Strasbourg cost in 2026/27?
| Level | National rate per year | Non-EU students per year (unless exempt) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s (licence) | €178 | €2,902 |
| Master’s | €255 | €3,950 |
| Master’s in engineering | €630 | not listed on the page |
| Doctorate and HDR | €398 | €398 (no higher rate) |
The university’s fee page is headed “Mandatory fees for 2026–2027”.[3] The higher “differentiated” rate applies to students from outside the EU and other eligible countries unless they are exempt. Doctoral students, HDR holders, refugees, long-term residents of France and CPGE students are not subject to it.[3] Campus France gives the same national rates.[10]
Exemptions
Students who receive a French State higher-education scholarship, or who come through an exchange programme, are exempt from the differentiated fees. Students on means-tested grants do not pay national tuition fees and pay only fees for university diplomas (DU).[3] Others can request an individual exemption from the president of the university; the Tuition Fee Exemption Committee reviews the request. The page gives no percentage or amount, cites Decree No. 2026-385 of 19 May 2026 and says the information “will be updated gradually”.[3] Under that decree, students who already held a waiver in 2025/26 keep the previous rules until they finish their current cycle at the same institution.[10]
CVEC and other costs
When you enrol you must also pay the Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC).[3] The amount is set nationally; see the official student portal. Tuition is only part of the bill: for rent and living costs, see our France guide and the Study in France guide.
How do you apply to the University of Strasbourg?
The university’s application page sends you to the platform that matches your situation:[11]
- Bachelor’s (licence): national platform Parcoursup.
- Applicants not yet enrolled in French higher education: a preliminary admission request (DAP, “dossier blanc”) through the university’s eCandidat site. A “dossier vert” DAP is needed for first-year entry in some cases.
- Master’s: national platform MonMaster.
- Residents of countries in the Études en France procedure: register on the Pastel platform (Études en France) and follow the procedure. If your country is not in it, you file the DAP through the cultural service of the French embassy in your country of residence.
- Doctorate and special cases: applicants with an equivalent foreign diploma follow an “admissions dérogatoires” procedure, and the doctoral school must approve the application.
The page does not map each platform to a nationality or level in detail, so check the university’s admissions pages to see which one applies to you. We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the timetable of your programme before you start. Visas can take several months, so contact the French consulate early.
Which language level do you need?
The university does not set one French level for everyone; each faculty decides. The Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science says that “a B2 level in French is required”, with level B2 for mathematics programmes and level C1 for computer science programmes at master’s level.[4] The Faculty of Letters, in its section for incoming students, asks for B2 for licence courses and C1 for master’s courses and notes that the very large majority of its courses are taught in French.[9]
B2 and C1 are levels of the CEFR scale (the European scale from A1 to C2; B2 is upper-intermediate, C1 advanced). The pages we read do not list accepted certificates, so ask your programme before you book a test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Strasbourg free for international students?
When was the University of Strasbourg founded?
It depends on what you count. The Gymnase protestant was founded on 22 March 1538, the Académie became a university in 1621 and the three Strasbourg universities merged into the current institution in 2009.[7]
Do I need to speak French to study at the University of Strasbourg?
For most programmes yes. The level depends on the faculty: for example B2 in mathematics and C1 in computer science at master’s level.[4]
How do I apply as an international student?
You use Parcoursup for a bachelor’s, MonMaster for a master’s, a DAP for applicants not yet enrolled in French higher education, or Études en France if your country is in that procedure.[11]
How is the University of Strasbourg ranked?
It is 456th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 420th in 2026.[2]
More about studying in France
- France: best universities
- Study in France: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in France
- Aix-Marseille University
- CentraleSupélec
- École des Ponts ParisTech
- École Polytechnique
- École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
- ESSEC Business School
- HEC Paris
- INSA Lyon
- PSL University
- Sciences Po
- Sorbonne University
- Claude Bernard University Lyon 1
- University of Bordeaux
- University of Lille
- University of Montpellier
- Université Grenoble Alpes
- Université Paris Cité
- Université Paris-Saclay
- Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier University
Sources
[1] University of Strasbourg: Key figures (figures for 2024/25; page without a date)
[2] L’Étudiant: QS 2027 ranking, French universities fall (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article updated 3 Jul 2026; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026)
[3] University of Strasbourg: Tuition fees (fees for 2026–2027; page without a date)
[4] University of Strasbourg, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science: Admissions (page without a date)
[5] University of Strasbourg: Legal notice of the POD video platform (owner’s address) (page without a date)
[6] Wikipedia: University of Strasbourg (type, history dates and student figure)
[7] University of Strasbourg: 500 years of history (page without a date)
[8] University of Strasbourg: Home page and training offer (page without a date)
[9] University of Strasbourg, Faculty of Letters: Incoming students (page without a date; section for incoming exchange students)
[10] Campus France: Tuition fees in France (page updated 25 Jun 2026)
[11] University of Strasbourg: Apply (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.